Article Support Rack

ABSTRACT

An article support rack has at least one shelf-board, a plurality of bearing legs joined to the shelf-board at spaced locations to support the shelf-board steadily, and at least one decorative strip. The decorative strip has a plurality of hooks attached to an inner surface thereof. The decorative strip is fixed physically and mechanically to a rim of the shelf-board by the hooks. The decorative strip can change the pattern, texture or shape thereof according to the decorative style of user&#39;s house, thus the rack equipped with the decorative strip suits the decorative style of the house.

CROSS REFERENCE TO THE RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This patent application claims the priority rights of the Chinese patent No. 200620058344.9, filed on Apr. 28, 2006 and Chinese patent application No. 200620058345.3, filed on Apr. 28, 2006.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a furniture and, more particularly, to an article support rack.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As fashion changes, an increasing number of families are inclined to apply dedicate and light racks with high textural quality to arrange articles thereon. Generally, a typical rack comprises a shelf-board for placing objects and a plurality of legs for supporting the shelf-board. Such racks are light, simple, and reliable in structure, which may illuminate the modern domestic decoration with regnant fashion. However, as the popularization of the racks, more and more users complain that the shelf-boards of the racks are monotonous and could not be consistent with the decorative style of their house.

Hence, a need has arisen for providing an improved article support rack to overcome the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an article support rack having decorative strips fixed thereto to suit the decorative style of user's house.

To achieve the above-mentioned object, an article support rack comprises at least one shelf-board, a plurality of bearing legs joined to the shelf-board at spaced locations to support the shelf-board steadily, and at least one decorative strip. The decorative strip has a plurality of hooks attached to an inner surface thereof. The decorative strip is fixed physically and mechanically to a rim of the shelf-board by the hooks.

Preferably, the hooks are attached to the decorative strip by connectors, and the connector is a screw or a bolt.

As an embodiment of the present invention, each hook has a U-shaped clamp with two branches that define a contractible open and an extension piece extending sideward from one of the branches, and the connector passes through the extension piece to attach the hook to the decorative strip. Also preferably, the shelf-board forms a fence at the rim thereof, and the U-shaped clamp of the hook clamps the fence.

Alternatively, each hook has a pair of C-shaped clamps at an upper side and a lower side thereof respectively, and the connector passes through the hook to attach the hook to the decorative strip. Also preferably, the shelf-board forms a fence at the rim thereof, and the C-shaped clamps of the hook clamp the fence.

Alternatively, the decorative strip defines a slot in the inner surface thereof, and each hook has a tenon formed on a back surface thereof and fitted into the slot to attach the hook to the decorative strip. Preferably, the slot is a female dovetail, and the tenon is a male dovetail. Also preferably, two opposite ends of the female dovetail are widened to enable the male dovetail to come into the female dovetail therefrom. The shelf-board forms a fence at the rim thereof, each hook has a U-shaped clamp with two branches that define a contractible open, and the U-shaped clamp of the hook clamps the fence.

In the invention, the shelf-board is a metal-net sheet. More preferably, the decorative strip may be made of wooden material.

The decorative strips can change the pattern, texture or shape thereof according to the decorative style of user's house, thus the present rack equipped with the decorative strips not only has more visually appealing value but also suits the decorative style of user's house, thereby further illuminating the modern domestic decoration with regnant fashion.

Other aspects, features, and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this disclosure and which illustrate, by way of example, principles of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an article support rack according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a shelf-board of the article support rack shown in FIG. 1, also showing a decorative strip fixed to the shelf-board.

FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view of the decorative strip and a hook according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the decorative strip and the hook of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an assembled perspective view of the decorative strip and a hook according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the decorative strip and the hook of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an assembled perspective view of the decorative strip and a hook according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the decorative strip and the hook of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the decorative strip to be fixed to the shelf-board.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Various preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the figures, wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views. As indicated above, the invention is directed to an article support rack with certain decorative style to suit user's house. The article support rack has shelf-boards, a plurality of bearing legs joined to the shelf-board at spaced locations to support the shelf-boards steadily, and decorative strips fixed physically and mechanically to rims of the shelf-boards by hooks. The decorative strips can be designed to have for example certain pattern, texture, or shape according to the style of user's house, so the article support rack with the decorative strips suits user's house.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-2, the article support rack of the exemplary embodiment has several shelf-boards 1, four bearing legs 2 and decorative strips 4. Each shelf-board 1 forms a fence 3 at the rim thereof which may strengthen the shelf-board 1 and assist in protecting the articles supported thereon from falling off. Understandably, the shelf-board 1 is preferably a metal-net sheet, but it could be any shape and structure so long as suitable for supporting articles and still be within the scope of the present invention. Also, the decorative strip 4 is typically made of wooden material. Besides, the number of the bearing legs 2 can be more or less than the above-given and still be within the scope of the present invention.

In the invention, the hooks and the corresponding decorative strip could be soundly secured together by multiple fittings of any suitable construction or operation. Alternatively, a plurality of connectors, for example screws or bolts or the like, may be provided to fix the hooks to the decorative strip.

Now referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, these two views clearly illustrate a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention wherein the hook 5 has a U-shaped clamp 7 with two branches 71, 72 that define a contractible open 73 and an extension piece 51 extending sideward from one of the branches 71, 72. A screw 6 passes through the extension piece 51 to secure the hook 5 to the decorative strip 4 reliably. The U-shaped clamp 7 of the hook 5 clamps the fence 3, thus the decorative strip 4 and the fence 3 are operable to be attached together. As the contractible open 73 of each hook 5 opens downwards and the fence 3 is composed of thin metal rods, it is much easier and more effective for the hook 5 to fasten the fence 3 firmly and tightly, thus achieving a sound attachment between the decorative strip 4 and the fence 3.

Alternatively, with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the hook 5 according to another embodiment of the present invention has a pair of C-shaped clamps 8 at an upper side and a lower side thereof respectively. The hook 5 defines two thread holes (see FIG. 5, not labeled) between the C-shaped clamps 8. Two screws 9 pass through the thread holes of the hook 5 to attach the hook 5 to the decorative strip 4. The C-shaped clamps 8 of the hook 5 clamp the fence 3, thus the decorated strip 4 and the fence 3 are operable to be attached together. More concretely, as each C-shaped clamp 8 opens forwards, and the fence 3 is composed of thin metal rods, it is much easier and more effective for the hook 5 to fasten the fence 3. The two C-shaped clamps 8 respectively clamp an upper edge and a lower edge of the fence 3, thus achieving a sound attachment between the decorative strip 4 and the fence 3.

FIGS. 7-9 in particular illustrate a third embodiment of the present invention. A slot is recessed in an inner surface of decorative strip 4, while a tenon is projected from a back surface of the hook 5 for engaging with the slot to attach the hook 5 to the decorative strip 4. Preferably, the slot is a female dovetail 12, and the tenon is a male dovetail 10. Two opposite ends of the female dovetail 12 are widened for the purpose of facilitating the male dovetail 10 being inserted into the female dovetail 12 therefrom. When the male dovetail 10 approaches the widened end 11 of the female dovetail 12, the male dovetail 10 may subsequently slide along the female dovetail 12, thus fitted into the female dovetail 12. Also, preferably, the hook 5 further has a U-shaped clamp 7 with two branches that define a contractible open which is operable to clamp the fence 3. As the structure of the U-shaped clamp 7 and the fence 3 is the same as that of the first embodiment, the design of this preferred embodiment could also gain advantageous effects similar to the above structures. Understandably, a plurality of hooks 5 can be fitted into the slot for firmly securing the decorative strip 4 to the shelf-board 1.

While the invention has been described in connection with what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. An article support rack, comprising: at least one shelf-board; a plurality of bearing legs joined to the shelf-board at spaced locations to support the shelf-board steadily; at least one decorative strip; a plurality of hooks; a connecter attaching the hook on a inner surface of the decorative strip, the connecter being a female and male dovetail connector including a female dovetail on the inner surface of the decorative strip and a male dovetail on a back of the hook, the shapes of the female and male dovetails being matched each other; two opposite ends of the female dovetail being widened to enable the male dovetail to come into the female dovetail; the decorative strip being fixed to a rim of the shelf-board by the hooks.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The article support rack according to claim 1, wherein the connector is a screw or a bolt.
 4. The article support rack according to claim 1, wherein each hook has a U-shaped clamp with two branches that define a contractible open and an extension piece extending sideward from one of the branches.
 5. The article support rack according to claim 4, wherein the shelf-board forms a fence at the rim thereof, and the U-shaped clamp of the hook clamps the fence.
 6. The article support rack according to claim 3, wherein the each hook has a pair of C-shaped clamps at an upper side and a lower side thereof respectively.
 7. The article support rack according to claim 6, wherein the shelf-board forms a fence at the rim thereof, and the C-shaped clamps of the hook clamp the fence.
 8. (canceled)
 9. (canceled)
 10. (canceled)
 11. (canceled)
 12. The article support rack according to claim 1, wherein the shelf-board is a metal-net sheet.
 13. The article support rack according to claim 1, wherein the decorative strip is wooden material. 